The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today endorsed a new roadmap that will provide the organization with a clear sense of direction and sets firm targets to meet as it move forward.
The new roadmap will also allow the organization to carry out its programme for the next year amid funding challeges.
The strategy was presented to the Board’s 58 members by UNESCO’s Director-General Irina Bokova.
The roadmap is said to reduce the costs of programmes and strengthens the mobilization of resources outside of the budget.
“I am determined to meet the targets we have set in all areas – including cost efficiency, restructuring and human resource management.” -Ms. Bokova
UNESCO was forced to introduce financial reforms after the United States announced it was suspending its financial contribution last October and reducing the organization’s budget from $653 to $465 million.
The new roadmap focuses on UNESCO’s priorities which include y Africa and gender equality, programmes for youth, small island developing States, and countries in post-conflict and post-disaster situations.
The United States – which contributes 22 per cent of UNESCO’s budget – suspended its dues after the agency admitted Palestine as a full member on 31 October 2011.
UNESCO, which began work in 1946, has a specific mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom.